CBBC

'CBBC' - short for 'Children's BBC' - is the brand-name for the BBC's children's television programmes aimed at children aged between 6 and 12 years old. The Children's BBC name as a dedicated programming strand began on 9 September 1985, with the CBBC name used informally since 1990. This became official with a relaunch of the BBC's branding in 1997.
CBBC programmes are shown on BBC One, BBC Two and the CBBC Channel. CBBC has a sister brand, CBeebies, for children under 6.
CBBC comes under the control of the BBC Children's department, who are responsible for creating programming for children up to the age of 16. It is based in the East Tower of the BBC Television Centre, with some programmes coming from Scotland and Bristol.
Since February 2006, the Controller of BBC Children's has been Richard Deverell, with Anne Gilchrist as Creative Director of CBBC and Michael Carrington as Creative Director of CBeebies.
The department splits output into age groups, with CBeebies for ages up to 8, the CBBC brand for ages 8 to 12, and a new brand for ages 12 to 16 planned to launch in late 2007.

Contents

Programming

Presentation

Presenters

Logos

Other services

CBBC extra

Studio Runners

Adventure Rock

References

External links

Programming

Main articles: List of BBC children's television programmes

Like the 'adult' BBC, CBBC produces a whole range of programme types, including drama, news, entertainment, educational programmes and what is known as 'contemporary factual'.

Presentation

From launch until 1993, links between programmes were usually broadcast from the NC1 (BBC One) continuity suite, dubbed ''The Broom Cupboard''. It was kitted out with a set and was fully operational, with the presenter actually operating the vision mixing and audio consoles. By 1993, the operation was expanded; Presentation Studio A was used until 1997, before moving to the purpose-built studio TC9, near the ''Blue Peter'' garden at BBC Television Centre. During a brief period of expansion in studio facilities in 2005, links for BBC One and BBC Two utilised studio TC10 (on the sixth floor of TV Centre, and originally news studio N1), whilst 'The Channel' became the sole occupant of TC9. The last live continuity links from TC9 were broadcast on BBC One on Friday 1 December 2006, presented for the final time by Angellica Bell and Simon Grant, who left CBBC without being replaced, leading to a reduction in the number of studio presenters.
Since Monday 4 December 2006, all CBBC Presentation output on BBC One, BBC Two and the CBBC Channel has been produced from studio TC12.
CBBC relaunched for the fifth time on September 3 2007^[1][2].
The previous CSO computer generated backgrounds that were used from December 2006, have been replaced by a real set, constructed in TC12. The set is a nod to CBBC's roots, with a similar set up to the broom cupboard.
CBeebies presentation is recorded in nearby TC0.

Presenters

As of 3 September 2007, the main CBBC presenter is Ed Petrie. Accompanied by a talking cactus called Oucho, he presents on the CBBC Channel and CBBC's coverage on BBC One every weekday afternoon.
Until the end of August 2007, Gemma Hunt and Anne Foy presented CBBC coverage. Barney Harwood and Jake Humphrey made occasional appearances when not busy with other presenting commitments.
Notable former presenters have included Phillip Schofield, Andy Crane, Andi Peters, Philippa Forrester, Zoë Ball, Toby Anstis, Chris Jarvis, Angellica Bell and Andrew Hayden-Smith.

Logos

These logos show how the visual style of CBBC has developed over the course of its life:

1985-1991	1991-1997	1997-2002

2002-2005	2005-2007	2007- present

Other services

CBBC extra

CBBC extra is a free interactive television service from CBBC provided by BBCi. It is accessible from the CBBC Channel by pressing red and then selecting CBBC extra. It can also be accessed from any other BBC channel by pressing red and going to page number 570. The service differs across digital platforms, for example DSAT (i.e: Sky) viewers can access a video loop. Its availability on DTT (Freeview) is dependent upon BBCi not showing other interactive services, such as major sports events coverage.^[3]
CBBC extra offers 'Nev's Horoscopes', games, the UK Top 40, jokes sent in by viewers and a weekly competition.

Studio Runners

This is a free and interactive game produced by CBBC and is available from the main BBCi menu or from pressing red on the CBBC Channel. Gamers play for either the girls or the boys teams, guiding their character around a maze, opening doors and collecting various CBBC stars along the way.

Adventure Rock

Adventure Rock (previously named 'CBBC World') is a virtual online world for children currently in development, planned to launch in the Autumn of 2007. Press releases have stated "it would allow digitally literate children the access to characters and resources they had come to expect. Users would be able to build an online presence, known as an avatar, then create and share content."
The emphasis on the system will be on safety and responsibility, with no chatrooms or the financial aspects available in other online worlds such as ''Second Life''.
Controller of Children's BBC Richard Deverell said: "''[Adventure Rock]'' is a good example of the way we need to go. The thing that interests me is that children are at the vanguard. And that is where we are taking Children's BBC."^[4]

References

1. CBBC Autumn 2007
2. BBC announces rebrand and hours extension for CBBC
3. CBBC- CBBC extra
4. BBC plans online children's world

External links

★ CBBC at bbc.co.uk

★ A new look for CBBC

★ "And Now, For Younger Viewers..." A history of CBBC continuity from 1985 to 1994, from Off The Telly

★ The Broom Cupboard.co.uk, a history of CBBC continuity from 1985 to 1992, with over 150 pictures